Written by Sophie Hose, DC, MS, CCSP
The use of Virtual Reality (VR) technology in rehabilitation has been gaining significant attention over the past decade. Initially applied in gaming and entertainment, VR is now being utilized in healthcare to enhance the recovery process for a variety of conditions. From a chiropractic neurology standpoint, VR offers an innovative, non-invasive tool to address both musculoskeletal and neurological deficits, making it ideal for rehabilitation purposes. This technology allows athletes and non-athletes alike to perform sport-specific and functional activities in a controlled environment, accelerating recovery and optimizing neurological function.
In this blog post, we will explore how VR is being used in rehabilitation settings with a particular focus on sport-specific rehabilitation for athletes, and how it benefits non-athletes recovering from injuries or dealing with degenerative conditions. We will also delve into the unique contributions chiropractic neurology brings to this emerging field of rehab.
Chiropractic Neurology and the Foundation of Rehabilitation
Chiropractic neurology focuses on the diagnosis and rehabilitation of neurological dysfunctions that impact movement, balance, proprioception, and sensory integration. This specialty emphasizes restoring optimal function through non-invasive techniques that stimulate the brain and nervous system. In rehabilitation, whether for an athlete or non-athlete, this approach targets the integration of motor and sensory pathways that are often disrupted by injury.
Traditional rehabilitation often focuses on strengthening muscles and improving range of motion, but chiropractic neurology takes a more holistic view by addressing the underlying neural dysfunctions that cause improper movement patterns and delayed recovery. By using VR as a rehabilitation tool, chiropractic neurologists can more effectively engage the nervous system to accelerate recovery and optimize outcomes, particularly in sport-specific settings.
The Role of VR in Sport-Specific Rehabilitation for Athletes
1. Enhancing Neuromuscular Re-education for Athletes
For athletes, sport-specific rehabilitation is critical for a full return to competition. The ultimate goal is to help athletes regain not only strength and flexibility but also the precise movement patterns needed for their specific sport. This is where VR stands out. In traditional rehab, replicating the conditions of a football game or the movement patterns required for a tennis serve can be challenging. VR, however, allows athletes to practice these movements in a simulated environment that mimics the real-life conditions of their sport.
For instance, a soccer player recovering from an ACL injury can train with VR in a virtual soccer field, practicing running, pivoting, and kicking with real-time feedback on body mechanics. The immersive nature of VR makes it easier for the brain to re-learn motor control in the context of sport-specific movements, which enhances neuromuscular re-education. According to research by Gatica-Rojas et al. (2019), VR-based rehabilitation has shown promising results in improving gait and balance in patients with neuromuscular deficits. The same principles apply to athletes, as they too need neuromuscular coordination and balance to prevent re-injury and regain sport-specific performance.
2. Injury Prevention Through Proprioception and Balance Training
Injuries in athletes are often the result of poor proprioception and balance, particularly in sports that require quick directional changes or landing from jumps. VR-based rehabilitation offers athletes the opportunity to train their proprioception in an interactive environment that adjusts in real-time. For example, VR systems can simulate uneven surfaces, fast-paced movements, and visual distractions to challenge an athlete’s balance and proprioception—skills vital for injury prevention in highimpact sports.
A study by Laver et al. (2020) found that VR-based training was particularly effective in improving postural control and balance in older adults. These findings can be extended to athletes, as enhanced balance and proprioception are key to preventing lower-limb injuries like ankle sprains and knee ligament tears. For athletes recovering from these types of injuries, VR offers the ability to practice sport-specific movements, such as cutting and pivoting, in a controlled but dynamic setting.
3. Cognitive-Motor Integration for High-Performance Sports
Chiropractic neurology places significant emphasis on cognitive-motor integration, a key element for athletes involved in high-performance sports that require quick decision-making and precise motor execution. VR can simulate game-like scenarios, allowing athletes to train not only their physical abilities but also their cognitive responses in real-time.
For example, a basketball player could use VR to simulate catching a pass while making splitsecond decisions on whether to shoot or pass. By engaging both the brain and the body, VR rehabilitation accelerates cognitive-motor learning, helping athletes return to peak performance faster. In a study by Duque et al. (2019), VR rehabilitation significantly improved cognitive function in patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBI). For athletes recovering from concussions, VR offers a means to safely reintegrate cognitive-motor tasks without the risk of further injury.
4. Sport-Specific Motivation and Engagement
One of the significant barriers to successful rehabilitation is patient compliance. This is particularly true for athletes, who may struggle with motivation during repetitive, non-specific rehab exercises. VR addresses this challenge by gamifying rehabilitation tasks, making the exercises not only sportspecific but also engaging and challenging. An athlete recovering from a shoulder injury in baseball, for example, can simulate throwing pitches in a VR environment, receiving immediate feedback on the mechanics of their throw. This level of engagement keeps athletes motivated to adhere to their rehab protocols.
Research by Levin et al. (2015) supports this, showing that VR rehabilitation led to increased engagement and adherence compared to traditional methods. The ability to simulate real-life sports scenarios in a controlled environment gives athletes a tangible goal, making the rehabilitation process more relevant and enjoyable.
VR in Non-Athlete Rehabilitation: Addressing Neurological and Musculoskeletal Deficits
While VR-based rehabilitation offers significant advantages for athletes, non-athletes can also greatly benefit from this technology. Individuals recovering from conditions like strokes, vertigo, degenerative joint diseases, or sedentary lifestyle-related injuries often struggle with regaining full mobility and proprioception. The immersive nature of VR can make rehabilitation more effective and less intimidating for non-athletes.
1. Neuromuscular Re-education for Non-Athletes
Like athletes, non-athletes recovering from musculoskeletal injuries or surgeries often require neuromuscular re-education to restore proper movement patterns. VR offers a safe environment to practice walking, squatting, or lifting, providing immediate feedback on form and technique. Gatica-Rojas et al. (2019) demonstrated that VR could significantly improve motor control in stroke patients, a population that shares neuromuscular deficits with non-athletes recovering from surgery or injury.
2. Improving Balance and Preventing Falls in Older Adults
For non-athletes, particularly older adults or individuals with balance disorders, fall prevention is a primary focus of rehabilitation. VR-based programs simulate real-life environments where patients can practice navigating uneven surfaces, reacting to sudden obstacles, or maintaining balance in shifting scenarios. Laver et al. (2020) found that VR interventions were highly effective in reducing the risk of falls in older adults by improving postural stability.
3. Cognitive-Motor Rehabilitation for Non-Athletes
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), strokes, and concussions are not limited to athletes. Non-athletes recovering from these neurological conditions can benefit from VR-based cognitive-motor rehabilitation that integrates physical tasks with cognitive challenges. The immersive nature of VR helps the brain form new neural pathways, speeding up recovery for non-athletes facing cognitivemotor deficits. Duque et al. (2019) showed that VR-enhanced rehabilitation improved memory, attention, and executive function in patients with TBIs, demonstrating its broad applicability across populations.
The Future of VR in Rehabilitation
As VR technology continues to evolve, the potential for its application in rehabilitation will expand. The development of more sophisticated VR systems that track a wider range of movements, offer more detailed feedback, and create highly specific simulations for different sports or activities will revolutionize rehab for both athletes and non-athletes.
From a chiropractic neurology perspective, the integration of VR allows for precise targeting of neural pathways associated with movement, coordination, and balance, offering a more comprehensive rehabilitation program that addresses the root causes of dysfunction rather than just treating symptoms. By enhancing neuromuscular re-education, proprioception, cognitive-motor integration, and motivation, VR is set to become a standard tool in modern rehabilitation.
Virtual Reality has emerged as a transformative tool in rehabilitation, particularly for sport-specific recovery. By creating immersive, real-time environments that challenge the brain and body, VR enables athletes to practice sport-specific movements, re-train neuromuscular pathways, and improve proprioception, all while keeping them engaged and motivated. For non-athletes, VR provides a safe and effective platform for addressing neurological and musculoskeletal deficits, improving balance, and preventing further injury.
From a chiropractic neurology standpoint, the integration of VR offers a holistic approach to rehabilitation, ensuring that the brain and nervous system are actively involved in the recovery process. With research continually supporting its efficacy, VR is set to play a critical role in the future of rehabilitation for both athletes and non-athletes.
If you think that you or someone you love could benefit from VR therapies, contact our team at Georgia Chiropractic Neurology Center today to schedule your free consultation!
References
Gatica-Rojas, V., Méndez-Rebolledo, G., Soto-Poblete, A., Gutiérrez-Pastén, A., Guzmán-Muñoz, E., & Delgado-Muñoz, J. (2019). Virtual reality-based therapy in stroke rehabilitation: A systematic review of its effects on gait, balance, and lower-limb motor recovery. Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, 16(1), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-019-0518-8
Laver, K., Lange, B., George, S., Deutsch, J. E., Saposnik, G., & Crotty, M. (2020). Virtual reality for stroke rehabilitation. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (11). https://doi.org/ 10.1002/14651858.CD008349.pub4
Duque, G., Boersma, D., Loza-Diaz, G., Hassan, S., Suarez, H., Geisinger, D., … & Giangregorio, (2019). Effects of balance training using virtual reality system in older fallers. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 8, 257-263. https://doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S49789
Levin, M. F., Weiss, P. L., & Keshner, E. A. (2015). Emergence of virtual reality as a tool for upper limb rehabilitation: Incorporation of motor control and motor learning principles. Physical Therapy, 95(3), 415-425. https://doi.org/10.2522/ptj.20130579